The Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB) has called upon the government to take swift and effective measures against fraudulent operations by online travel agencies (OTAs), including the recently collapsed Flight Expert. The organization also urged for the immediate implementation of comprehensive guidelines to regulate OTA activities and protect the country\u2019s aviation and tourism industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This appeal came following an emergency meeting of ATAB\u2019s Executive Committee held on August 3, in response to the sudden shutdown of Flight Expert and the reported escape of its CEO and Managing Partner, Salman Bin Rashid Shah Sayem, who allegedly fled the country on August 2, 2025. The company\u2019s office has since remained locked and its website has gone offline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Flight Expert, a leading OTA operating since 2017, has reportedly been involved in unsustainable pricing practices\u2014offering discounts of BDT 3,000 to 5,000 per ticket, sometimes more\u2014creating unfair competition and manipulating market dynamics. Industry insiders also claim that the company had a bank guarantee of BDT 50 crore and procured tickets from large agencies for resale, the total value of which remains unverified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the emergency meeting, ATAB made several key resolutions to mitigate further damages and restore discipline in the sector:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
*Issuance of a show-cause notice to Flight Expert and initiation of procedures to cancel its ATAB membership as per the association\u2019s constitution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
*Appeal to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism to immediately halt refund processing for tickets issued by Flight Expert to prevent further financial loss to passengers and agents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
*Request to banks to refrain from contributing to market destabilization through excessive discount offers on credit and debit card transactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
*Commitment to raise awareness among regulators regarding promotional activities by OTAs that distort market competition through abnormal discounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
ATAB also affirmed its commitment to provide full legal and administrative support to affected agencies and members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The association has long expressed concerns about the lack of regulation in the online ticketing space. Since assuming office, the current ATAB leadership has consistently advocated for a structured regulatory framework for OTAs. On multiple occasions\u2014including public awareness notices published in Bangladesh Pratidin on July 27, 2023, and July 10, 2024\u2014ATAB has warned of deceptive pricing tactics and fraudulent schemes. A press conference on October 19, 2024, further highlighted the risks of portal ID sharing and inflated commissions used to capture market share.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Past incidents involving OTAs such as \u201cHaltrip,\u201d \u201c24ticket.com,\u201d and \u201cLet\u2019s Fly\u201d have followed similar patterns, defrauding both customers and fellow travel agents before disappearing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
ATAB warned that without prompt and decisive regulation\u2014particularly banning excessive discounting and portal ID sharing\u2014more such agencies could collapse, causing widespread harm to travelers and industry stakeholders alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism has reportedly been working on a policy to regulate travel agencies. However, ATAB stressed that rapid finalization and enforcement of this framework is now crucial, and must include clear provisions specific to online agencies.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"